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Pac-10 has wealth of QBs

Maybe, as the Pac-10 embarks on its final season before adding
Utah and Colorado, the stereotype still fits.

This has always been a quarterback's league.

"Historically in the conference," Washington coach Steve
Sarkisian said, "the teams that have won the Pac-10 championship,
or have been in the race at the end, have had veteran leadership at
that position."

Seven Pac-10 teams state that claim today.

"Every team has a great quarterback in the Pac-10," Arizona
Wildcats quarterback Nick Foles said.

Huskies senior Jake Locker could win the Heisman Trophy and be
selected No. 1 overall in the NFL draft next April.

Stanford's Andrew Luck, only a sophomore, is receiving buzz as a
first-rounder.

Cal's Kevin Riley led the conference in passing yards last
year.

Foles and USC's Matt Barkley combined to toss 34 touchdowns last
year; befitting the stereotype, they both have blond hair.

At the top of the list is Locker, who bypassed the NFL for one
more college season. He will try to get the Huskies to a bowl for
the first time since 2002 - a tall task given that UW hasn't won a
conference road game in 12 tries.

"You have to find a way to win on the road," Sarkisian said. "We
will have the advantage of having that senior quarterback who has
been in that environment."

The league's quarterback cadre features a stunning four
sophomores - Tuel, Prince, Barkley and Luck, perhaps the highest
touted of the four.

The son of former NFL quarterback Oliver Luck ran for 354 yards
last season, the most by a Cardinal quarterback since 1966.

"You wonder what makes a youngster that good," coach Jim
Harbaugh said. "You know it has something to do with Mom, Dad, God
- he has such talent. He has tremendous arm strength. He's as
accurate as any quarterback I've seen.

"He's a brilliant kid - not just book-smart, but also with the
football."

Rahim Moore, a UCLA safety who led the nation with 10
interceptions last year, called Washington and Arizona the best
passing teams in the league.

"You see the points they put up," he said. "When you have a good
quarterback like Jake Locker and Nick Foles … we are looking
forward to it."

Oregon, last year's Rose Bowl participant and this year's
favorite, is one of the three without an incumbent quarterback.
Either Darron Thomas or Nate Costa will take over the league's most
dangerous offense.

Arizona State could hand the keys to Steven Threet, a former
Michigan starter, while Oregon State is training sophomore Ryan
Katz.

Last year, half the Pac-10 won either four or five league games.
This year, a strong quarterback will separate a league in which
teams 1 through 9 are gathered tightly.

The inverse is true, too.

Despite the dominance of Oregon - and, to a lesser extent, OSU -
there is no sure thing without a quarterback.

"Our challenge is to take that next step," Sarkisian said. "As
we move toward the season and the Pac-10 Conference and the race
for the roses, it's going to be an exciting time."